Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20

[By telegraph 10 mo Dispatch-I
AssISABorNE, Mosr., F1ruary d.
For six weeks unprecedented SHOWS,
billiards, and gales have ragged through
the northern and western portions OF
Montana until mans only safety de-
ponds upon his remaining within the
house. The Oldest settlers acknow-
ledge that the winter is the most severe
for ten years. For days the thermo-
meter fingered between 10 and 40 de-
grees below zero, and during one pc.
rod Of twenty-four hours registered oi
degrees below zero. The main
range of the Rockies has along It's
entire length through Montana from
two to six feet of snow, and there Is an
average depth Of 20 inches upon the
prairies. Drifts have formed upon the
cattle ranges in the Coules and along
the stage routes TO remarkable depth,
and the surface of the snow is covered
with crust too thick for the cattle 10
break in order that they may reach the
grass. Stock of all kinds is suffering
in the most fearful manner, and, while
some of the cattlemen estimate the pro-
bable loss at % per cent, the majority
claim to have quit figuring on the losses
now and will be thankful if they have
enough left TO start anew in the
spring. Hay is very scarce, 800
per ton being paid with slacri-
ty. The various mail-coach lines
have been the greatest sufferers by the
impassable roads, the delay of mails,
and the mortality among their stock,
the Helena and Benton Stage Company
alone having lost thirty head OF horses
since Christmas. Should prolonged
chinook set in now there would be a
sudden breakup of the Missouri river
from Benton down, causing tremendous
gorges and an immense amount OF de-
struction. At all events, there will be
a big river and long season of nayiga-
ton the coming summer.
BROKE HER SHAFT IN THE ICE.
MAcKINAw CRY, Mich, February 10.
A high wind and binding snow-storm
set in at 6 o'clock Thursday evening,
increasing in velocity until midnight
and continuing until noon yesterday.
1t was by all odds the most savage
storm of the season. The transfer
steamer Algomah battled with it all
night on her trip from st. Ignace TO
Mackinaw City, with party of passen-
gersand large amount of freight. The
passengers all came ashore over the
ice at noon and reported the vessel had
broken the main shaft of her coupling
half mile out, where she will have to
remain until the ], 200-pound casting is
taken to Detroit for repairs and re-
turned, which will take ut least eight
days.
CANTON, OAK, February 19.-The
worst blizzard of the season has been
raging throughout Dakota since Thurs
day noon. All trains are abandoned,
and business is at standstill on ac-
count of the immense quantity of snow
on the ground.
| THE STORM IN DAKOTA CONTINUES.
HURON, OAK, February 19.-ThC
storm that commenced Thursday has
not vet ceased. The wind is from the
North, but is not cold. The snow is
piled as high as the fence-tops and the
wagon-roads are mostly impossible
The Bismarck train, which got as fal
as Redfeld Thursday, was brought bach
here yesterday, and locomotive ruT
from Brookingo to Volga was the only
wheel turned on the 700 miles of the
Dakota Central division of the Chicag,
| and Northwestern road to-day, NJ
efforts will be made to clear the road
until the storm subsidies. The pas
thirty-six hours have been the most dis
agreeable known in this part of Dakot
since $780,